Patient Services
Patient Services
Breast care has seen tremendous progress in our lifetime, with great improvements in survivability. With advancements in screening with digital and 3D mammography and breast MRI, we are finding smaller cancers in their earlier stages. Genetic testing is helping identify women who are at higher risk of developing cancer and therefore should be followed more closely. Ultrasound guided biopsies quickly diagnose abnormalities and determine if cancer is present. Cancer treatments better coordinate advanced surgical techniques along with adjuvant treatment of chemotherapy, radiation and hormone blocking that is customized for the type and extent of the cancer.
Surgical Treatment
After women complete their needle biopsy, occasionally they have benign disease that has a high risk for having nearby cancer or becoming cancerous in the future. These women should undergo removal of the diseased areas with a lumpectomy.
If your biopsy shows cancer cells, most all women undergo surgery. Surgical procedures range from a minor lumpectomy to bilateral mastectomies. Some will receive additional treatments of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation. These treatment options are based on your type of breast cancer, its stage, whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones or certain chemotherapy agents, your overall health, and your own preferences.
We are committed to providing a personal, specialized treatment plan customized for the type and extent of your cancer using today’s best practices and technologies in order to provide the best possible outcome. Moreover, you can be assured that Dr. Templeton herself will personally perform all of your biopsies and surgeries.
Detection
In women who have a breast lump or an abnormal mammogram, a breast biopsy may be needed. Most can be done in our office with a local anesthetic to maximize your comfort during the procedure. Biopsies are usually done to check a lump found during breast examination or after a suspicious mammogram or ultrasound that did not yield adequate answers. All women with an abnormality should have a needle guided biopsy done first prior to any surgical biopsies. This is the standard of care and always practiced in our office.
Monitoring
Whether you have a family history of breast cancer, carry the BRCA gene, had an abnormal mammogram in the past or a benign lump, we will determine the appropriate follow-up schedule and screening for your risk profile. Finding a cancer at its earliest stage is a significant contributor to survivability.
Risk Assessment
If breast or ovarian cancer runs in your family, it is recommended that you discuss whether genetic testing is right for you. Dr. Templeton can fully explain the risks and benefits, and how testing could affect you and your family. This is a simple blood or saliva test performed in our office that looks for changes or mutations in many genes including the two most common genes called BRCA-1 and BRCA-2. Women who inherit these genes have a higher-than-average chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer and may need additional screening or preventative treatment.